Injection blow molding apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an injection blow molding process for making plastic receptacles, an injection station is provided for injection molding a parison of selected configuration. An expansion and blowing station follows for initially expanding the parison to a predetermined length, and thereafter the parison is blow molded into a predetermined lateral and final configuration to thereby biaxially orient the molecular structure of the parison. An ejection station is provided for removing the finished product from the apparatus. The parison is transferred along a first path away from the injection station, along a second path which is normal to the first path and then along a third path parallel to the first path to the expansion and blowing station. At the same time, a finished product is transferred from the blowing station to the ejection station along a corresponding path. The blow molding station is adjustable or interchangeable so that different size containers can be molded without changing the size of the injection cavity. The apparatus may also be designed with a core pin arrangement to insert a liner within an outer plastic parison shell prior to the blow molding process at which time the liner and parison shell will weld together to form a finished container. Close temperature control is provided with the parison being maintained with a desired temperature range to retain the biaxial orientation. Finally, the apparatus is designed to facilitate removal of the finished product to further work stations for subsequent work thereon.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 551,274 filedFeb. 20, 1975, now abandoned, and is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 558,819 filed Mar. 16, 1975 now U.S. Pat. No.3,990,826 granted Nov. 9, 1976 which is a continuation of Ser. No.318,703 filed Dec. 27, 1973, now abandoned, which in turn is a divisionof Ser. No. 158,161 filed June 30, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,991granted Dec. 4, 1973 and which in turn is related to application Ser.No. 285,244, filed May 31, 1972 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,314 granted June25, 1974.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for makinghollow plastic articles such as containers or bottles by first injectionmolding a preform or parison, bringing the temperature to an orientationrange, transferring it to a blow molding station at which time theparison is initially removed from the transfer pin. The parison isretained in position at the blow molding station for insertion of a corepin which axially extends and stretches the parison fully in onedirection and then permits air to blow the parison to the desired extentwithin the mold in another direction to form the configuration of thefinished blown article. The article is then cooled and is transferred toan ejection station for removal from the apparatus or to a further workstation.

The technique employed includes the steps of injection molding, axialexpansion by stretching and then blow molding to obtain biaxialorientation of the finished product, article cooling and articleejection which are separate and related to one another but adapted tooperate simultaneously.

The apparatus and technique permits the injection molding of a parisonand then transfer to a further station for first longitudinal expansionby stretching and then lateral expansion by blow molding to a finishedconfiguration. The finished product is then transferred to an ejectionstation for removal.

A further object is to provide a multiple station injection blow moldingapparatus and method in which two sets of core rod assemblies index atprescribed stations sequentially, with the first set cooperating ininjection molding a parison and the second set axially expanding theparison to its full extent, blow molding the parison laterally to theselected full configuration, cooling the blown article and thereaftertransferring the article to an ejection station or a further workstation.

A further object is to provide a transfer injection blow molding machineand method of employing close temperature controls for both heating andcooling where required to obtain parison molding to the desiredconfiguration together with biaxial orientation.

Still a further object is to provide a transfer injection blow moldingmachine and method employing two parison blowing stations being fedalternately from one injection station together with two articleejection stations for removing the finished articles and transferringthem to a desired location.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for bringingdifferent plastic resins to the proper temperature range in order tocause molecular orientation and a method and apparatus to support theparison while it is being axially expanded.

Another object is to provide a multiple station blow molding apparatusand method in which two sets of core rod assemblies index at prescribedstations sequentially with the first set cooperating in injectionmolding a parison and then effecting separation therefrom in order thatthe parison may be left at the molding cavity, and the second set fittedwith a liner for insertion into the parison of the molding station,cooperating in molding the parison and liner together into the finalproduct configuration with the liner interiorly of the plastic parisonshell, and thereafter removing the finished product from the blowmolding station and transferring it to an ejection station or a furtherwork station.

A further object is to provide adjustable stop means to regulate theaxially stretching capacity of the parison during the molding processand thereby further control molecular orientation of the parison.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings illustrating somewhat preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an injection blow molding apparatus of thisinvention showing the press in a closed or clamped position;

FIG. 2 is a similar top plan view of the press opened;

FIG. 3 is a similar plan view with the press closed after the core rodassembly supporting plate shifted linearly to the right to transfer aparison and cooled finished article to the blowing and ejectionstations, respectively, and the two remaining core rod assemblies beingtransferred to cooperate in blow-cooling and parison injecting,respectively;

FIG. 4 is a similar plan view with the press opened following the stepof FIG. 3 after which the apparatus assumes the disposition shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view with the press having been just closed afterthe core rod assembly supporting plate has been shifted linearly to theright and the parison in the left blow mold has been stretched to thefull axial extent;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary sectional view of the left hand blow mold afterthe parison has been laterally blown to the full extent subsequent tothe stretching of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an alternative form of an injection blowmolding apparatus of this invention showing the press in a closed orclamped position;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the press opened;

FIG. 8 is a similar plan view of the alternative embodiment with thepress closed after the core rod assembly supporting plate shiftedlinearly to the right to transfer a parison and cooled finished articleto the blowing and ejection stations, respectively, and the tworemaining core rod assemblies being transferred to cooperate in blowcooling and parison injecting, respectively, and the two remaining corerod assemblies being transferred to cooperate in liner insertion, blowcooling and parison injecting, respectively;

FIG. 9 is a similar plan view of the alternative embodiment with thepress open following the step of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the alternative embodiment as shown inFIG. 8 immediately after the press has been closed and the parison inthe left blow mold has been axially stretched with the liner insertedtherein; and

FIG. 10A is a fragmentary sectional view of the left blow mold of FIG. 9with the parison and inserted liner having been expanded fully laterallyto arrive at the final finished product configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to the embodiment of injection blow molding machineillustrated in FIGS. 1-5A, a single row of in-line stations are present,namely a preform or parison injection station 10, a pair of blow moldingstations 12A and 12B on opposite sides of the parison injection station10 and a pair of ejection stations 14A and 14B spaced outwardly fromstations 12A and 12B, respectively. At the parison injection station 10,a parison mold 16 mounted on clamping plate 18 cooperates alternately orsequentially with a pair of core rod assemblies 20A and 20B mounted onplate 22 in forming the parison 24.

These core rod assemblies 20A and 20B are also adapted to couple withthe blow molds 12A and 12B, respectively, in transferring the parisons24 to the blow molds for formation of receptacles 26. The parisons 24are displaced from rod assemblies 20A and 20B by a partial expansionthereof from air passed through rods 20A and 20B. Alternatively, theparisons can be displaced by the readily available means such ascollapsing the core pin, pulling the parison off the core pin, or byproviding the core pin with a lubricant surface. The partially expandedparison 24 as shown in FIG. 2 is then retained in the molds 12A and 12Buntil coupled with core rod assemblies 28A and 28B which are arranged inline with and on opposite sides of the core rod assemblies 20A and 20B.The parisons are first axially expanded by stretching during theinsertion of core rods 28A and 28B as depicted in FIG. 5 and thenlaterally blown into final configuration by air passing through rods 28Aand 28B as depicted in FIG. 5A. The formed final receptacle 26 is thenpermitted to cool in the molds 12A and 12B and are transferred from theblow mold station to the ejection station at which a product removalmechanism 30A and 30B cooperates in removing the finished receptaclefrom the accommodating core rod assembly 28A and 28B, respectively.Although a single row of stations are illustrated in the drawings, itshould be understood that multiple rows of such stations may be on theplates 18 and 22 not only in a horizontally disposed line asillustrated, but vertical as well or in parallel lines; and similarly,the plates 18 and 22 could be horizontally disposed rather than beingvertical as shown where desired or necessary. A rotary arrangement couldalso be employed. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5A,clamping plate 18 is stationary whereas indexing plate 22 is reciprocaltowards and away from plate 18 and is reciprocal in a plane parallel tothe plane of plate 18. Mechanism for accomplishing this reciprocation iswell known to the art and for this reason will neither be described norillustrated. Obviously, clamping plate 18 may be reciprocal and plate 22stationary or these plates may traverse any one or the other of thereciprocal movements.

Injection Station

The core rod assemblies 20A and 20B when aligned with the parisoninjection mold 16 form the injection station. In each cycle, one of thecore rod assemblies is disposed within the cavity of the mold 16 forpurposes of receiving the injected plastic shot employed in molding theparison 24. The core rod assemblies 20A and 20B may be essentially ofthe type disclosed in the above referenced patents and may haveassociated therewith a one-piece or split neck mold 32A or 32Brespectively. These neck molds will remain in a closed position exceptat such time as it is desired to disassociate the core assembly 20A or20B from the partially expanded parison 24 so that the free coreassembly may be in a position to return to the parison injection station10 to form another parison 24. In this instance, the core rod assemblies20A and 20B include the core rod 34A and 34B which cooperates with theparison injection mold 16 and neck molds 32A and 32B in defining theshape of the parison 24. For certain types of containers a one-pieceneck mold could be employed. The choice of neck mold depends on the sizeand shape of containers being formed.

Upon reciprocation of the indexing plate 22 and assuming the relativeposition of reciprocation as shown in FIG. 1, the parison mold 16 willbe disposed about the core pin 32B into engagement with the closed neckmold 32B to define the parison forming cavity. The parison 24 is formedupon the injection into the cavity of the selected plastic melt undercontrolled pressure and temperature with uniform density as explained inthe above patents.

The mold 16 and particularly its cavity is carefully temperaturecontrolled, electrically or by fluid (water or oil), in a manner wellknown to the art. In this connection, the mold 16 is at elevatedtemperatures whereas the split mold 32B is cooled to set theconfiguration of the neck as early as possible in the molding process.Core pin 34B is also heated either by means of liquid or electricalheat. If desired, the core pin could be cooled by the same means. Inthis manner, a skin is formed on the outer surfaces of the parison 24and on the inner surfaces thereof whereby the parison 24 is correctly"seasoned" in the parison mold 16 for blowing. For such purposes, theindexing plate 22 is retracted to the position shown in FIG. 2.Thereafter, the plate 18 reciprocates to the right to assume therelative disposition as illustrated in FIG. 3 prior to the forwardreciprocation of plate 22.

A standard parison cavity 16 for a range of bottle sizes and weights isemployed with an exchangeable temperature controlled core pin 34B and anexchangeable temperature controlled neck mold 32B. With these elementsin the clamped injection position, a parison preform of resin 24 isinjected under controlled pressure and temperature conditions. Uponcompletion of the injection, the plastic resin is brought to orientationtemperature range by temperature control devices in the injection cavityand the core pin. Whether heating or cooling is required depends on thetype of plastic material being molded. As stated above, the neck ring iscooled rapidly to make the preformed neck cool and set up.

Blow-Orient Station

The indexing plate 22 will reciprocate forwardly towards plate 18 toplace the blow mold 12B about the parison 24 on core rod 34B and intoengagement with the closed neck mold 32B as shown in FIG. 3 prior toblowing. During this procedure, the parison is still undergoingtemperature change preparing for orientation and stops 27A and Brestrain the parison from further movement at this time and may assistin temperature control. The neck ring continues to cool the plasticparison neck and the temperature control device within the mold 25B andin core pin 34B brings the parison to orientation range. Cool or warmair might be used on the outside of the parison entering fromappropriate vents in the mold cavity. The ultimate object is to bringthe parison to proper orientation temperature. A stop 27A and 27B whichis spring loaded touches the end of the parison 24 or alternatively isabout 1/16 inch in from the parison end. This stop 27A and 27B istemperature controlled also. Low pressure air is momentarily introducedor puffed into parison 24 to bring it into the configuration 25 asdepicted in FIG. 5. The air can enter the parison in a conventionalfashion such as through air vents 39 in core pin 34B. In this manner,the plastic parison is slightly expanded off of core pin 34B and the airpushes the parison 24 against the stop 27B, just enough so that the corepin 34B may be withdrawn. By that time, the neck ring has cooled and themold opens.

Indexing plate 22 withdraws removing the core pin 34B while leaving thepartially expanded parison 25 in the blow cavity 25B. It is held inplace by the interengagement between the partially enlarged parison 25and the bottom wall of the mold cavity and by interengaging surfacesbetween the parison neck and the mold cavity. Alternatively, the pin canbe removed by collapsing it and withdrawing it from the parison, bycoating the surface of the pin with a lubricant, by pulling the parisonfrom the pin from within the mold, or any other readily available means.

The core system then transfers linearly again until the appropriate coreassembly 28B is brought into alignment with mold cavity 25B. Theresultant position would be the same as that depicted for core pin 28Awith respect to mold cavity 28A in FIG. 5.

This secondary core pin assembly 28A includes a nylon or similarmaterial pick-off pin 36A which is lined up with the partially expandedparison 25. Indexing plate 22 then closes extending core pin 36A intomold cavity 28A and into the partially expanded parison 25. As theassembly closes, pin 36A stretches the parison 25 longitudinally fromthe inside while the stop 27A supports the outside of parison 25. Sincethe parison is at the proper temperature range, the stretching orientsthe parison molecules. It also stretches the parison to the properlength as predetermined by stop 27A to obtain the desired amount oforientation in one direction and to permit uniform stretching of theparison side walls.

The stop 27A is then forced back into its blowing position. Stop 27A canbe mounted in any convenient fashion for adjustment purposes such as byuse of springs. When the mold 12A is totally closed and the parison isfully stretched, high pressure air enters the parison from the centralshaft 45 and connecting apertures 47 in pin 36A. This high pressure airor other gas expands the parison to the finished container shape 26 asdepicted in FIG. 5A. The container takes the shape of the blow cavity25A.

Since the parison does not expand much further longitudinally, havingalready done so, but does radially, it now orients again at right angleto the previous orientation. The container cools and is then biaxiallyoriented. The result is an increase in impact strength, tensilestrength, and stiffness. Additionally, the biaxial orientation decreasesgas permeation factors as well.

By use of interchangeable or adjustable molds, different size and shapecontainers can be formed. Only a single injection cavity need beemployed.

When bar 22 retracts, after the mold clamp has opened, the container 26is extracted from the blow cavity 25A by engagement with retracting pin36A.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5A the pin 36A or 36B then linearlytransverse into alignment with the ejection chute 14A or 14B as may beappropriate. However, alternatively, pin 36 can be aligned with furtherwork stations, for example, the container can be aligned with anoxidizing flame, it can be put into position for decoration, it canrotate the container against a printing roll or coating roll or intoalignment with a coating spray. Furthermore, it can support the bottlewhile it is labeled or it can be positioned so that the bottle can befilled with a product. These additional steps are enabled by the natureof pin 36A which is fully extended into container 26 and fully controlsmovement of the container. The pin 36A or 36B has an enlarged bottom end71 which frictionally fits with the neck portion of the container and ithas an intermediate narrower portion 72 which extends the remainingdepth of the container 26 and terminates in a knob 73 which bottomsagainst the inner bottom surface of container 26. Knob 73 forms thesurface which longitudinally extends the container initially asdescribed above. By use of a pin or rod such as 36A and 36B thecontainer can be fully handled and controlled for the descriptivepurposes as outlined above. For every additional work station a set ofadditional pick-off pins would be provided with the ultimate setdirecting the forwarded product to the ejection station.

An alternative form of the apparatus is depicted in FIGS. 6-10A. All ofthe similar parts are similarly labeled with the addition of a primeadded thereto. The difference of note between the embodiment of FIGS.6-10A and the embodiment described above is in the provision ofrotatably mounted core pins 36A' and 36B'. Instead of a single core pinassembly 28A or 28B there are opposing core pin assemblies 28A' and 28B'which are approximately 180° apart and are mounted on a rotatablecylinder member 80 which is driven by conventional means about bar 22'as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 10. Means for rotating the opposingcore members is any conventional well known means which is adaptable foruse with the conventional drive mechanisms employed for the linearmotion. As shown in FIG. 10, when one core pin 36B' is in position forejecting a container 26 the opposing core pin 36B' has a liner appliedthereto in a conventional fashion. The liner or sleeve 81 is retained onthe pin 36A' or 36B' until it is in position to be rotated for alignmentwith a mold cavity. In this fashion, the liner is inserted with the corepin 36B into the partially expanded parison 25 and in the followingmolding process is welded or joined in some other convenient fashionwith the plastic material as a unitary final container with liner 26'.If desired, the liner may be preheated prior to insertion.

The opposing pins 36A' and 36B' can pick up the liner material eitherduring the ejection phase of operation or just prior to rotation andinsertion into the mold cavity. The liner 81 can be in the form of asleeve as depicted or it can be an applied film, thin walled tube or cupor the like. The material for cup or liner 81 can be of a more expensivenature and designed for its barrier and inert features. When used, amore inexpensive plastic outer shell can be employed thereby providing acontainer for use in unusual situations where deterioration may occurwithout the necessity of having the entire container of the moreexpensive or difficult to obtain plastic.

The inner liner or barrier plastic cup can be heated or softened priorto insertion by conventional heating means either part of pins 36A' and36B' or conventional heat is located in the vicinity of the liners whenthey are mounted.

With the bar 22' retracted from bar 18, the pins 36A' and 36B' can berotated freely to bring the pin containing the liner into alignment withthe appropriate mold cavity. Thereafter, bar 22' closes with bar 18' andthe pin and liner combination enters the parison in the partiallyexpanded parison 25 in the blow cavity. The pin 36A and 36B stretchesthe parison and at the same time the liner 81 welds to the inside end ofparison 25. Thereafter, high pressure air entering through orifices 47'in the pin 36A or 36B expands the liner 81 and the parison 25 to takethe form of the blow cavity. During this process, the liner welds orjoins to the parison 25 and the result is a finished container 26' withan inner liner 81 and an outer shell parison of a dissimilar plastic.

Alternative arrangements can be employed for the opposing sets of pins.For example, they can be horizontal reciprocal pairs or in any otherconvenient rotary or linear relationship to be shifted between the linerreceiving position and the in-line position for the molding process.

In all of the embodiments discussed, when the final container shape 26is formed, a constant stream of air passes through orifices 47 in thepins 36A and 36B at reduced pressure and is passed over the innersurfaces of the receptacles 26. This air is permitted to bleed outbetween the receptacle neck and the core pin 36A or 36B. This type ofcooling action facilitates faster injection blow molding, however,obviously there are several other ways of obtaining this constant airflow and circulation for cooling the receptacle 26, all of which areintended to be embraced by the present invention.

Returning to consideration of the ejection station as depicted inrespect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5A, upon lateral reciprocation ofplate 22, the core rod 36A or 36B with the associated cooled receptacle26 thereon is brought into alignment with the appropriate productremoval mechanism 30A and 30B respectively. When the indexing plate 22is shifted forwardly, the cooled receptacle 26 is placed intoassociation with the product removal means 30A or 30B which, in theillustrated embodiment, may assume the form of a suction tube which willwithdraw the receptacle from the core rod. In this connection, eachcycle, one set of the core rods will deposit the receptacles in theejection tubes while the other set are coupled with the blow mold as thecase may be for final formation and cooling of the blown receptacles 26.The receptacles can be removed in any conventional fashion such as thosedisclosed in the above referenced patents.

It should be kept in mind that for each linear arrangement employed withappropriate ejection tubes at the end, there is a separate chute.Therefore, if different size containers are being formed at differentsuccessive linear arrangements, the chutes will automatically index eachsize container at their outlet point. In this manner, there is nointermingling of different size resultant containers and the productsare automatically categorized. As previously discussed, other workstation operations can be performed at the location of the ejectionstation.

To briefly summarize the general operation of the present system aspresent in the embodiments depicted, plastic resin is initially injectedinto the cavity of the parison mold 16 and split neck mold 32B at theparison molding station 10 to form a parison 24. The press opens by theretraction of indexing plate 22 permitting the core rod assembly 20B toremove the parison from the mold in a manner as shown in FIG. 2. Thelinear transfer mechanism is then actuated to cause the plate 22 toshift laterally to align core 34B with the cavity of the blow mold 25Bat the blow molding station 12B. The press closes once again and airenters the parison 24 and forces the plastic away from the core pin intoa partially expanded condition. Once this has occurred, and the neck ofthe parison has cooled, the neck mold opens and the press opens leavingthe partially expanded parison 25 in the blow mold cavity for furthercooling and expansion as the press is opened in a manner shown in FIG.4. The plate 22 is reciprocated to its other lateral position to alignthe core rod assembly 28B or in the case of the second embodiment 28B'with the blow mold 25B or 25B', respectively, containing the partiallyexpanded parison 25. Thereafter, if the embodiment of FIGS. 6-10A isemployed, the pins 28B' are rotated so that the pin containing the linerwhich has been applied to the pin sometime previously while it was inthe opposing position is rotated to be brought into alignment forinsertion into the mold 25B. At that time, the process for eitherembodiment is the same as the press is closed and the core rod 36B or36B' enters the neck of the partially expanded parison 25. As the presscloses, the knob 73 at its end engages with the bottom of the parison 25and stretches the parison longitudinally thereby orienting the moleculesof the parison in that direction. This action continues until theparison bottoms against stop 27B which determines the length requiredfor desired orientation in one direction. Air is then blown through theapertures 47 in the core rod to expand the parison 25 laterally andorient the molecules of the parison in that second direction. Theparison takes the form of the entire mold cavity with the piston 47being retracted to the base of the mold cavity. In the case of theembodiment employing the liner, the stretching and blowing procedurecauses the liner to weld or join to the inner surface of the parison 25.In any event the resultant container 26 is of the desired configuration.Air is then blown through the orifices 47 in the core pin to cool thecontainer.

At the end of the cool cycle, the blow mold cavities open at blowmolding station 26B. The press is once again opened and the cooledreceptacle 26 is then transferred by the core pin to the ejection moldedstation 14B. Thus, during each cycle parisons are injection, parisonsare partially blown, parisons are stretched and blown and biaxiallyoriented into final container forms and thereafter cooled. The finishedcontainers are ejected or alternatively as discussed above can be passedto further work stations for desirable activity.

The economic advantages of containers formed by the above apparatus andprocedures are readily apparent. By using replaceable or adjustable moldcavities, the initial injection cavity can be of a somewhat uniform sizethereby greatly reducing change-over time and providing for longer lifefor the molds. Additionally, by biaxially orienting the containers, theyhave greater strength and less gas permeation with the use of lessplastic. Naturally, this reduces the cost. The overall time cycles ofthe operations can be accomplished in much faster time and production isincreased. When the embodiment employing the liner is utilized, acheaper plastic shell can be employed thereby reducing the overall costof the container.

Thus the several aforenoted objects and advantages are most effectivelyattained. Although somewhat preferred embodiments have been disclosedand described in detail herein, it should be understood that thisinvention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to bedetermined by that of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. An ejection blow molding apparatus for making plasticreceptacles comprising:an injection station, including means at theinjection station injection molding a parison of selected configuration;an expansion and blowing station including means to position the parisonand then to expand the parison to a predetermined length and then toblow mold the parison into a predetermined lateral and finalconfiguration; an ejection station with product removing means at theejection station removing the finished product from the apparatus; theinjection station, expansion and blowing station, and ejection stationbeing positioned in an adjacent linear side-by-side cooperatingarrangement; a linear transfer means being reciproally movable towardand away from the injection station, expansion, and blowing station, andejection station and being reciprocally movable in a path perpendicularto the direction of reciprocal movement toward and away from thestations; the linear transfer means being positioned with respect to theinjection station, expansion and blowing station, and ejection stationso that movement thereof away from the stations will permit the lineartransfer means to remove a parison from the injection station along afirst path and to simultaneously remove a finished product along asecond path parallel to the first path and then along a third pathperpendicular to the first and second paths to bring the parison intoalignment with the expansion and blowing station and the finishedproduct into alignment with the ejection station and then transfer theparison along a fourth path into the expansion and blowing station andsimultaneously the finished product along a fifth path parallel to thefourth path to the ejection station.
 2. The invention in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the means at the expansion and blowing station forexpanding and blow molding the parison is sufficient to biaxially orientthe molecular structure of the parison and the parison is maintained atproper orientation temperature during the molding thereof.
 3. Theinvention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes onecommon injection station, two expansion and blowing stations with eachstation being positioned on one side of the injection station and twoejection stations with one of the ejection stations being located on theopposing side of a blowing and expansion station from the injectionstation.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein a clampingplate and a second plate are provided, the parison molding means at theinjection station including a parison mold mounted on said clampingplate, each of the blow molding means at the blowing stations includinga blow mold mounted on the clamping plate in spaced relationship with afirst blow mold on one side of the parison mold and a second blow moldbeing on the opposite side of the parison mold and in line therewith,the linear transfer means including first and second in line core rodassemblies respectively mounted on said second plate and each of saidassemblies including a first core rod projecting laterally toward saidclamping plate, each first core rod adapted to sequentially couple withthe parison mold in molding a parison and thereafter transfer a moldedparison to the blow mold furthest away from the other first core rod, asecond core rod of one assembly being coupled with the first blow moldfor blow molding the parison on said core rod when the first core rod ofthe one assembly is coupled with the parison mold for injection moldinga parison and the second core rod of the other assembly being coupledwith the second blow mold for blow molding the parison on said core rodwhen the first core rod of the other assembly is coupled with theparison mold for injection molding a parison.
 5. The invention inaccordance with claim 4 wherein the first and second core rod assembliesare adapted to permit removal of the core rod from the associatedparison and means on the associated blow mold and parison to retain thepartially expanded parison in position, each of the product removingmeans at the ejection station being mounted on the clamping plate with afirst product removing means being on the side of the first blow moldaway from the parison mold and the second product removing means beingon the side of the second blow mold away from the parison mold, theproduct removing means being in line with the blow molds, the secondcore rods are for completing the expansion and blow molding of theparison into the finished product configuration and for cooling theblown parison in the blow molds and being mounted on said plate in linewith the first core rods each second core rod adapted to coupled withthe aligned blow mold when the respective first core rod is coupled withthe parison mold and is adapted to first expand the parison axially andthereafter expand the parison to a full extend laterally to therebybiaxially orient the stretched plastic parison and each second core rodadapted to transfer the fully blown parison to the aligned respectiveproduct removal station when each respective first core rod is coupledwith a blow mold.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 whereinmeans are provided for reciprocating the second clamping plate towardand away from the clamping plate to couple the core rods with the moldsand means are provided for laterally reciprocating the second plate tocooperate in transferring parisons to the associated blow moldingstation and the blown parisons to the associated ejection station. 7.The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said injection stationfurther includes a first core rod assembly and a second core rodassembly each having associated therewith a split neck mold for formingthe neck of the container on the parison at the injection station, theneck mold being closed at the injection station and at the blow stationand adapted to open prior to the uncoupling of the core rod assemblywith the blow mold and thereafter close prior to coupling with theparison mold.
 8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 whereintemperature control means are provided for controlling the temperatureof the neck mold.
 9. The invention in accordance with claim 4 whereinthe parison blow molding means includes means for introducing airinternally of the injection molded parison, the parison molding meansbeing temperature controlled, each of the blow molds including a splitmold which is closed and adapted to be opened when the second core rodstransfer the blown parisons to the ejection stations.
 10. The inventionin accordance with claim 4 wherein the blow molds are temperaturecontrolled and the second core rods are temperature controlled.
 11. Theinvention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the second core rodsinclude an enlarged knob on the forward end thereof and means forintroducing air therethrough into the blown parison so that insertion ofthe second core rods into corresponding aligned partially expandedparisons will cause the parison to be stretched in the direction ofmovement of the core rod to the desired degree and then after when airpasses through the core rod into the parison the parison will be fullyexpanded in the remaining lateral directions, and air bleed means topermit bleeding of the introduced air between the core rods and theblown parison.
 12. The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein anadjustable stop extends inwardly from the closed end wall to the blowmold to facilitate orientation of the parison by supporting the end ofthe parison holding it against the core rod to allow thereafterstretching of the parison side walls.
 13. The invention in accordancewith claim 1 wherein interchangeable and replaceable blow molds areemployed at the expansion and blowing station to facilitate manufactureof different size finished products.
 14. The invention in accordancewith claim 1 wherein adjustable blow molds are employed at the expansionand blow molding station to facilitate manufacture of different sizefinished product.
 15. The invention in accordance with claim 4 whereinthe second core rod include a pair of core members which are mounted inrespect to one another so that when one of the core members is inalignment with the clamping plate, the other core member is in alignmentwith means for applying an internal liner for a parison, and means forindexing the second plate so that a core member containing a liner isinserted into a blow mold when the core member is aligned therewith sothat expansion of the parison causes simultaneous expansion and weldingof the linear to the parison.
 16. The invention in accordance with claim1 wherein a removable chute is located at each ejection station so as toengage and guide the finished product to a predetermined locationthereby facilitating the selected sorting of different size finishedproducts for adjacent blow molding apparatus.
 17. The invention inaccordance with claim 4 wherein means are provided to linearly transfersecond core rods and further core rods to further work stations with thefinished parisons included thereon and in position for further work. 18.An ejection blow molding apparatus for making plastic receptaclescomprising:an injection station, including means at the injectionstation injection molding a parison of selected configuration; anexpansion and blowing station including means to position the parisonand then to expand the parison to a predetermined length and then toblow mold the parison into a predetermined lateral and finalconfiguration; a work station with means associated therewith preformingfurther work on the full expanded parison; the injection station,expansion and blowing station, and further work station being positionedin an adjacent linear side-by-side cooperating arrangement; a lineartransfer means being reciprocally movable toward and away from theinjection station, expansion, and blowing station, and further workstation and being reciprocally movable in a path perpendicular to thedirection of reciprocal movement toward and away from the stations; thelinear transfer means being positioned with respect to the injectionstation, expansion and blowing station, and further work station so thatmovement thereof away from the stations will permit the linear transfermeans to remove a parison from the injection station along a first pathand to simultaneously remove a finished product along a second pathparallel to the first path and then along a third path perpendicular tothe first and second paths to bring the parison into alignment with theexpansion and blowing station and the finished product into alignmentwith the further work station and then transfer the parison along afourth path into the expansion and blowing station and simultaneouslythe finished product along a fifth path parallel to the fourth path tothe further work station.
 19. The invention in accordance with claim 18wherein the means at said expansion and blowing station for expandingthe parison to a predetermined length and then blow molding the parisoninto a predetermined lateral and final configuration acts sufficientlyto biaxially orient the molecular structure of the parison, and theparison is maintained at proper orientation temperature during themolding thereof.
 20. A single injection blow molding apparatus formaking a selected oriented finished product comprising in combination:asupport structure; an injection molding station on the support structureincluding injection molding means injection molding a parison into aselected configuration, said injection molding means including a firstcore rod assembly having a first core rod cooperating in forming theparison which is formed about the first core rod, said injection moldingmeans including heating and/or cooling means including the first coreheating and/or cooling the parison to orientation temperature while theparison is on the first core rod; transfer means on the supportstructure transferring the parison to a blow molding station andremoving the first core rod from the parison transferred to the blowmolding station and returning the first core rod to the injectionmolding station; a blow molding station on the support structureincluding blow molding means blow molding the parison while atorientation temperature into the configuration of the finished product,and blow molding means including a second core rod assembly having asecond core rod cooperating in blowing the parison into theconfiguration of the finished product; the transfer means on the supportstructure to assemble the second core rod with the parison at the blowmolding station after the first core rod has been removed therefrom anddisassemble the second core rod from the oriented finished product. 21.The invention in accordance with claim 20 wherein the conditioning meansis operable to control the temperature of the parison while on the firstcore rod at the injection molding station and during the transferthereof to the blow molding station to temperature condition the parisonfor orientation.
 22. The invention in accordance with claim 20 whereinanejection station is on the support structure and includes ejection meansfor ejecting the oriented finished product from the machine.
 23. Theinvention in accordance with claim 20 wherein the blow molding stationincludes expansion means including the second core rod for initiallymechanically expanding longitudinally the parison and thereafter theblow molding means is operable to blow the longitudinally expandedparison into the configuration of the finished product whereby themolecular structure of the finished product is biaxially oriented. 24.The invention in accordance with claim 23 wherein the parison has aclosed end and the expansion means includes a biased pin forming part ofthe blow molding means which cooperates with both core rods forsupporting the closed end of the parison while at the blow moldingstation to prevent its rupture during orientation and blowing.
 25. Theinvention in accordance with claim 20 wherein puffing means forsupplying a puff of air while at the blow molding station to slightlyexpand the parison to facilitate the separation of the first core rodand its removal therefrom.
 26. The invention in accordance with claim 20wherein the blow molding means includes cooling means for rapidlycooling the blown finished product for retention of the finished productin its oriented configuration.
 27. The invention in accordance withclaim 20 wherein the transfer means operates to transfer the parisonrelative to the blow molding station along a first path of travel afterit has been injection molded away from the injection molding station,then along a second path and then a third path to the blow moldingstation and operates to transfer the product from the blow moldingstation during the transfer of the parison.
 28. The invention inaccordance with claim 27 wherein transfer means operates to transfer theparison along a first linear path away from the injection station, thenalong a second linear path which is normal to said first path and thenalong a third path parallel to the first path to the blow moldingstation, and wherein an ejection station is on the support structure andtransfer means simultaneously transfers the finished product from theblow molding station to the ejection station along corresponding paths.29. The invention in accordance with claim 20 wherein finished productis a receptacle having a formed neck and neck mold means including thefirst core rod assembly at the injection molding station for forming theneck independent of the formation of the remainder of the parison andthe neck mold means including cooling means to retain the neckconfiguration upon being molded.
 30. The invention in accordance withclaim 20 wherein adjustable means are at the blow molding stationinteriorly of the blow molding means for supporting the end of theparison by holding it against the second core rod during orientation andpermitting the manufacture of different size products from a single sizeparison mold.
 31. The invention in accordance with claim 20 wherein thesecond core rod assembly including means operable after the finishedproduct is blown for cooling the product by circulating fluid interiorlyof the finished product while at the blowing station.
 32. The inventionin accordance with claim 20 wherein a finished product removal stationis on the support structure, the injection molding station, and blowmolding station and removal station being in-line, and another blowingstation and removal station being in-line with the injection moldingstation with another blow molding station adapted to receive parisonsfrom the injection station.
 33. A single injection blow moldingapparatus for making a selected oriented finished product comprising incombination:a support structure; an injection molding station on thesupport structure including injection molding means injection molding aparison into a selected configuration, said injection molding meansincluding a first core rod assembly having a first core rod cooperatingin forming the parison which is formed about the first core rod;conditioning means conditioning the parison to orientation temperature;transfer means on the support structure removing the first core rod fromthe parison and transferring the parison to a blow molding station; ablow molding station on the support structure including blow moldingmeans blow molding the parison while at orientation temperature into theconfiguration of the finished product, the blow molding means includinga second core rod assembly having a second core rod cooperating inblowing the parison into the configuration of the finished product; thetransfer means on the support structure assembles the second core rodwith the parison at the blow molding station and disassembles it fromthe oriented finished product.
 34. The invention in accordance withclaim 33, wherein the conditioning means is operable to control thetemperature of the parison during the transfer to the blow moldingstation to temperature condition the parison for orientation.
 35. Theinvention in accordance with claim 34, wherein the blow molding stationincludes expansion means including the second core rod for initiallymechanically expanding longitudinally the parison and thereafter theblow molding means is operable to blow the longitudinally expandedparison into the configuration of the finished product whereby themolecular structure of the finished product is biaxially oriented.